Ravidasi

The members of the Ravidasi religion believe in Guru Ravidas or Raidas as their founding prophet. The members are called Ravidasias who believe in Guru Ravidas to be their spiritual master and revere him as Satguru. He is considered one of the early northern India poet-Sants.

Guru Ravidas founded a spiritual movement in the fourteenth century in India. He was born in a downtrodden community known as Chamars, who were considered "untouchable". According to the inhumane practice of caste, the lowest strata were particularly attracted and initiated into the Ravidasi path. These people were recognised and named "Ad-Dharm" meaning the Primal Spiritual Way, and were a unique community, not adhering, collaborating, cohering and attributing to any other community i.e Hindu, Muslims or Christians of that time

Founder

Guru Ravidas (or Raidas) is considered the founder of the Ravidasi religion by his followers, known as a Ravidasi. According to this religion, it is not a condition that a person be born in the Ravidasi community to become one.

Places of Worship

Technically a Ravidasia can meditate and reflect on God anywhere as Guru Ravidass stated that God dwells within the heart and is always around us.

However, there does exist places of worship which are termed "Gurdehera" (properly Ravidasia Gurdehera Sahib). It is not obligatory to cover one's hair or remove the shoes when entering, but many do due to the influence of Sikh practices within the Punjabi Ravidasi community.

Outside a Gurdehera there is always a red flag upon which is written the Nishaan, and above it an electric lamp symbolising enlightenment from Guru Ravidas's teachings.

Langar takes place inside a Gurdehera following in the ancient Sufi practice prevalent in Benares at the time of Guru Ravidas, all are free to partake of it.

The Shri Guru Sikhya Sahib is installed as the focal point in the main worship room, although there is talk of this being replaced with works consisting entirely of Guru Ravidas' words (this is known as the Ravidas Bani).

Arti takes place daily at the closing of the day's formal services, this consists of the famous Arti written by Guru Ravidas in which he tells God that only His name is sufficient.

Religious Scripture

The Ravidasi holy book is the Shri Guru Sikhya Sahib, known to Sikhs as the Guru Granth Sahib. Ravidasias believe that this book imparts the existence, worship, belief, praise, dedication and devotion to One Almighty God the creator. This holy book contains Raidas's writings and also many other contemporaries and disciples, including Guru Nanak, Guru Kabir, Baba Farid etc.. who preached a spiritual path to personal enlightenment. This book contains passages from the holy book Ravidas-Deep, which was presented in the court during British rule in India in recognition of the Ravidasia religion and the ‘Ad-Dharam’ community.

Relationship with Sikhism

The Ravidasi religion does not insist that it's followers wear the 5ks of Sikhism, as does the Rahit Maryada of Guru Gobind Singh which all Sikhs must follow. They are also not bound to cover their hair in worship or remove shoes. The relationship with Sikhism is a merely exterior one.

Places of pilgrimage

All Ravidasias and historians believe that Ravidas was born on 15th January 1377 and according to the Indian calendar, Sunday Sukhal Falgin Parvithta in 1433. The birth place is located in the Uttar Pradesh State in India, in the city of Benares. It was not an urban area. The locality was known as Mandhuadhe. The community was known as ‘Kutvandla’ one of the Shudhra communities. Begumpura otherwise known as Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan Mandir, at Seer Goverdhanpur, Varanasi, India is the ultimate place of pilgrimage for the followers of Ravidas today.

Religious flag

The Ravidasi religious symbol is known as the Nishaan, distinct from the Sikh Nishan Sahib. Strictly speaking "Nishaan" means "symbol" and is used in Ravidasi context to mean their mantras passed down by their Sants. There is some discussion going on amongst some Ravidasias that the symbol should be Sohang or Har. Both of these words are directly or indirectly meant for mediation or in reciting of Ravidasia hymns, and are given to individuals by their Sant.

However, there is a long established Ravidasi flag which has been in use for centuries, its explanation is as follows:

Centre

Chaar Janju (four sacred threads) The Brahmin’s usually put these on according a few scriptures. Guru Raidas demolished this by arguing on the basis of logic and spirituality. He explained the four different states of time relating to four disciplines and rituals of religion Dharma.

Square (The Heavy Stone)

According to legend, Raidas made the heaviest stone float on the River Ganges. The logic behind this miracle is the enlightenment and overall uplift of every individual. Lack of knowledge and wisdom one sinks to depths of darkness, knowledge makes the stone and steel float.

Sunrays (Thirty four rays of Sunlight)

As a downtrodden people, the Dalit were not allowed to be educated or could afford to be so. The Guru Raidas spoke and communicated in local dialect, and established 34 words script which later became modified by a Sikh Guru and was known as the Gurmukhi script at a later stage. This enabled the Dalit to enjoy and progress in understanding and communicating their philosophy. The Ravidassi Guru's name is Ravi, meaning sun. The universe is illuminated due to the suns otherwise it would be in darkness. The second half of his name is Dass meaning "servant," therefore the Satguru of the Ravidassi religion is the "Servant of Illumination." By following his example, Ravidasia people are striving to become enlightened, as was their Guru.

Circle

The whole universe - the sacred Kara or "Bangle" and the [[Charanamrit}} or Bowl of holy water. This circle depicts the whole universe, which is contained and run in God's order. Guru Ravidas produced the holy water in a round bowl. The circle also represents the round golden bangle presented to him by Mirabai his follower.

Slogans & chants

The following slogans have been used in Ravidasi community worship since around 1490 CE, and are still used today:

  1. “Jo Bole So Nirbhey” - “Shri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ki Jai”.
  2. “Jo Bole So Nirbhey” – “Ravidasia Dharma Ki Jai”.
  3. “Jo Bole So Nirbhey – Sadh Sangat Ki Jai”.

Whenever any Ravidasi receives, meets, writes or addresses another he or she is suppose to say “Jai Gurudev”.